{Thanksgiving with a little bit of Chocolate}

Thanksgiving was a little different this year for our family.....well a lot different then another Thanksgiving. This year we got invited to go to Hershey Park with some friends. The plan was to leave on Thanksgiving stay 2 nights and head back. Hershey Park wasn't really that far away so we said, "sure." {well with a lot of thinking}. PLus to go in the off-season was less then 10.00 a person. We had fun we really did and I don't have regrets going, but I was robbed from my Thanksgiving Dinner. Instead we ate at Cracker Barrel and had a nasty cafeteria Thanksgiving dinner {well it wasn't mine : )}We didn't have a wonderful thanksgiving prayer cause we always feel awkward about saying prayers out loud in public, so we said it after dinner in the car and was interrupted by our friends honking at us :) {I'm so not mad I think it's pretty hilarious.} I thought I would make a Thanksgiving dinner when we got home sometime but never did. But what we did do was have a lot of fun at Hershey Park with our friends from Long Island as well as our friends from Vegas who live an hour away from Hershey. They were on our way home so we saved some money {Thank you Smiths} and we stayed with them the second night and played with them the whole day and drove a couple of hours and we were home! Very fun Trip. Here is the proof.

Hershey was such a darling little town. Really it was. All brand new and nice!

 I love the Light post made out of Hershey Kisses!

Before you enter the park you have to measure yourself up and find out where you stand and what rides you can go on. Here were the finally results.

Mason Minatures Hershey Kiss

Emberlynn-Hershey Kiss

Addison- Reseeces

Alix- Hershey Bar

Mom & Dad- Jolly Ranchers BAby!- and Jon was sure Jolly about that!

 Mason's first ride was awesome!!! He loved every minute.

Then I took him on one that was a bit more faster and that ruined it completely. It took such a long time for him to relax and enjoy the park again {the the rides}

 Emberlynns Favorite Friend is Lucy. She really worries about her a lot.

The girls had a blast.

 Mason still not a fan of the rides.

Finally, a ride Mason enjoys. I think I crunched up in this vehicle a few to many times for this boy.

Very poor shot, but Check out the giggles on this ride and then there's poor Hannah.

Jon's Friend Charles. The Hunters are new in our Branch. They came from Staten Island after doing a Podiatry school. We are so happy to have more friends and such awesome ones!

One of my favorite rides.

 Check out the views! Rachel does my hair. She is so awesome! We trade our services!

This ride would go so high and turn around so you can see the whole park. Very fun and relaxing.

NOt sure who let these kids take the wheels. Watch out!

Mason found his favorite ride!! Check out the smile!

I made Emberlynn and Mason go on this ride a few too many times while we waited for Jon and the big girls ride there ride. Can you tell they are out of it completely. We played so hard.

 Everything was so cutely decorated for Christmas.

Some rump got in my shot...

Here we go, now with MB not looking!

We took the tour to see how they make all the chocolate. Very fun Factory, you could do a million things there.

We even got free samples after the tour. Fresh chocolate is soooo much better then the other stuff you buy at the store.

After the fun day in Hershey we drove to the Smiths out. Mason did not want to be in this picture. It was too much for him.

Our kids hit it off so well. Maybe too well. I just received a text from my friend Stacia who said Madden made a little girl cry at church because he didn't want to marry her that he was going to marry Addi in NY. So cute!

Even Emberlynn and Dawson hit it off too. They were playing together so well. From what I hear Dawson is a typical boy, but MB had him playing dollies and he was surely showing off his soft caring heart!  Oh no What's going to happen when they are older? hahaha!

Well that was our Thanksgiving. Fun fun! I forgot to tell you one of the best highlights of the trip was after dinner on Thanksgiving. I dropped off the family and me and Rachel went to Walmart and Target for Black Friday Sales. I NEVER WOULD DO THAT ON LONG ISLAND. Especially the Walmart. Let me remind you all that my Walmart is the one that someone died cause he got trampled over.

{A Lovely Stroll in Little Italy, Lolita & Chinatown

 OUr family discovered more in Manhattan. We drove down found a free parking spot and stolled the streets of LoLita, LIttle Italy, and Chinatown. We had so much fun. I loved it. We ate at Lombardies {and lots Mason darling coat while we had to fold the stroller up and they hauled it away, anyway didn't notice it was gone till we were on our way home} a famous pizza joint in Little Italy and also  had what they claim was their best Conoli in the City. Sadly I wasn't a fan. It took a long time to try one and now I know why. Jon liked them but not sure if he would buy it again. But it's all about the experience right? 

We found a park in the city and played there for a little bit, right before we indulged in our pizza. This was such a pretty part. I never thought I could say this but, I totally would live in the city. The fear of the unknown is gone and I'm completely fascinated with Manhattan. The only probably is I would want  to be rich cause everything always seems so expensive.

I love how much Jon loves to play with the kids. He is such a young at heart and would play all day if he could. 

Mason getting in his snack. Just chilling like a local!

 

We had a really fun time and Jon bought me a new purse, scarf and hat in the city for Christmas! all cheap too! {of course}

Another wonderful day in the city!

{Halloween in 2012}

 This Halloween we did a few things different.  Sense Hurricane Sandy Hit on the 29th of October and Halloween was on the 31st {and let me remind you no electricity}, so there was no homemade doughnuts, no yummy chili, no yummy baked goods, but WE DID make these cute little juice box mummies. Alix & Addison wanted a bow on top of theirs so you could tell it a girl. I think they did pretty good with this activity. also behind the juice box mummies we made this year a Chevron Pumpkin. I love how it turned out!

I taped it all up using tape from Jon's Medical Kit. Then the kids painted it and I didn't have to stand there and say wait don't paint that cause they were able to paint anything on the pumpkin. The kids had a blast taking turns. Even Mason had a turn.

 Eating our snacks right before we go out. Early in the morning I had to drive to a friends house who had electricity. There we plugged in the curlers because Brave had to have curly hair. {The extremes moms go through to make things memorable or not memorable for these little ones}-But yeah it was important at the time that's all that matters : )

After we got all ready we headed out. Let me remind you here on Long Island we trick-or-treat during the day. We started around noon. The Village of Malverne did an amazing job cleaning up in the few days they had before Halloween. I can't believe how fast and efficient they were.

Here we are Trick-or-Treating in our neighborhood. I love how unique and different each house is. They all are so charming and darling.

I don't think the storm bothered these mums!

Alix was Little Mermaid, Addison was Brave, and Emberlynn wore my favorite Witch costume.

Here's my little Itsy Bitsy Spider. So darling. Got this costume at Children's Place for $1.00 in the summer.